Monday, May 7, 2012
Reading Log
As a result of multiple recommendations from multiple friends, I divulged into the Percy Jackson series. I made it to about page 160 this week which is quite a bit more than my usual reading. So far it is a very interesting book and it hooked me right away. I saw the movie a while ago and the book definitely out does the movie. There are much more action scenes and plot strengthening sequences that entrance me much more than the movie. Stella slept through my reading for most of the week so she must be bored by the book but hopefully she'll wake up for this week.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Reading Log
I finished the last hunger games book today on my way home from a soccer game. I really can't decide if I like the ending or not. I like how she ended up with Peeta but I really thought there was gonna be something more at the end. Something drastic like Katniss being elected president or something. I also didn't like how Finnick died. I thought he was a great character and one of my favorites. I didn't get the chance to read to my chinchilla this week unfortunately but she could probably use a break from the attention anyways.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Reading Post
Well it seems like I have done a million of these posts and the year will never end but I keep moving along trying to accomplish these goals. But instead of starting some non fiction book I finished Catching Fire and started Mockingjay. The ending of Catching fire was so surprising. I didn't see it coming at all. But I do not know if I really liked it or not though. It ended a little to abruptly when I was hoping for a little bit more. I'm worried that Mockingjay might not have very much action too and it might be boring. But I guess I will have to read more to find out.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Reading Log 3
So I never thought I would get so entranced in the Hunger Game Series to have 300 pages of the second book read in less than a week. I'm not sure what it is - probably the suspense of the action scenes and the games - that force me to keep the book focused in front of my face and to wipe away the sleep from my dreary eyes. I did continue to read in front of my chinchilla and I think maybe she is starting to like all the attention. But as I get further and further into the Hunger Games Series, I get farther and farther away from completing my goal of reading more diverse things.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Note 2 and 3
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Parade Scene
For all of you deprived children who have not seen what some critics claim to be one of the funniest movies of all time, this scene consists of Ferris Bueller, a high-school senior, singing on a parade float in the middle of downtown Chicago. The celebratory exclamation of the crowd and the idealized image of Chicago exudes a sense of playful comfort that anyone could easily fit in the city. The first song that Ferris sings is harmonious and serene causing the crowd to react surprised and almost disappointed at the gregarious teenager. However, the police guards choose not to remove him from the float out of either a sense of improbable disregard or self-amusement. This action illustrates that the city is accepting of young people having fun as well as easily entertained. Soon after, the disparaging tone picks up as Ferris begins to sing "Twist and Shout." Everyone in the city begins to dance for no apparent reason other than to have fun. Even construction workers, babies, and obese men join in the random gamboling. The exceeding comfort level of the crowd demonstrates that the citizens of Chicago really don't care about differences between them, but instead they are all out to enjoy life in the city.
City Life by Viraj Bhanshaly
Depicted in Viraj Bhanshaly's poem "City Life," the constant congestion of people, noises, and cars in the city - only interrupted by the awkward silence of the early hours in the morning - illustrates the special needs of city dwellers to have patience and an admiration for the large range of strange actions going on in the city. The silence of the city only exists at night where "the city streets are calm" and "everyone is sleeping." However, when the sun rises, "the silence disappears" and and is never able to overcome the roar of city busses and taxi cabs. Bhanshaly first characterizes the city as being overly noisy in his perspective by describing the night when it is quiet as peaceful and needed almost as if he longs for the moment when sleep falls over the city. He also describes the night as the time when "heaven awakes." The overly positive diction that Bhanshaly employs towards silence exudes a sense that silence is the only good part of the city. However, he ends the poem by saying that even though the city is overwhelmed by "the screech of cars," "motorbikes going racing," and "the lively dynamic roads" that are not easy to navigate, Bhanshaly loves the city because even though it is expensive to live in, "it gives you range." Bhanshaly's contradiction of the earlier negative tone in the poem suggests that he does care about living in the city and that he couldn't imagine living else where. Also, he chooses to apply a constant ABCB DEFD etc. rhyme scheme. The inclusion of this rhyme creates a rhythm and flow to the poem almost to mimic the steady hum of traffic down the crowded streets. It is the constant honking and yelling of traffic in every city that makes life in urban areas unique and enjoyable.
For all of you deprived children who have not seen what some critics claim to be one of the funniest movies of all time, this scene consists of Ferris Bueller, a high-school senior, singing on a parade float in the middle of downtown Chicago. The celebratory exclamation of the crowd and the idealized image of Chicago exudes a sense of playful comfort that anyone could easily fit in the city. The first song that Ferris sings is harmonious and serene causing the crowd to react surprised and almost disappointed at the gregarious teenager. However, the police guards choose not to remove him from the float out of either a sense of improbable disregard or self-amusement. This action illustrates that the city is accepting of young people having fun as well as easily entertained. Soon after, the disparaging tone picks up as Ferris begins to sing "Twist and Shout." Everyone in the city begins to dance for no apparent reason other than to have fun. Even construction workers, babies, and obese men join in the random gamboling. The exceeding comfort level of the crowd demonstrates that the citizens of Chicago really don't care about differences between them, but instead they are all out to enjoy life in the city.
City Life by Viraj Bhanshaly
Depicted in Viraj Bhanshaly's poem "City Life," the constant congestion of people, noises, and cars in the city - only interrupted by the awkward silence of the early hours in the morning - illustrates the special needs of city dwellers to have patience and an admiration for the large range of strange actions going on in the city. The silence of the city only exists at night where "the city streets are calm" and "everyone is sleeping." However, when the sun rises, "the silence disappears" and and is never able to overcome the roar of city busses and taxi cabs. Bhanshaly first characterizes the city as being overly noisy in his perspective by describing the night when it is quiet as peaceful and needed almost as if he longs for the moment when sleep falls over the city. He also describes the night as the time when "heaven awakes." The overly positive diction that Bhanshaly employs towards silence exudes a sense that silence is the only good part of the city. However, he ends the poem by saying that even though the city is overwhelmed by "the screech of cars," "motorbikes going racing," and "the lively dynamic roads" that are not easy to navigate, Bhanshaly loves the city because even though it is expensive to live in, "it gives you range." Bhanshaly's contradiction of the earlier negative tone in the poem suggests that he does care about living in the city and that he couldn't imagine living else where. Also, he chooses to apply a constant ABCB DEFD etc. rhyme scheme. The inclusion of this rhyme creates a rhythm and flow to the poem almost to mimic the steady hum of traffic down the crowded streets. It is the constant honking and yelling of traffic in every city that makes life in urban areas unique and enjoyable.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Reading Post
Well spring break went great maybe not in terms of my reading accomplishments but in terms of overall enjoyment. I did finish the hunger games over break and very quickly i might add. It has been a while since I have actually been entranced by a book like that. But then that simple happiness was lost by the required reading of 1984. I mean it really wasn't that bad of a book but I think there is just something about having to read it for school instead of for fun that just kills the whole point it reading. Maybe its the quiz i know I am going to have to take tomorrow during fifth period, or just the fact that I am going to have to discuss the themes and write an essay on a book that I didn't even know had a theme. Oh well, I did accomplish my two book over spring break goal, though.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Exercise 3
Reviews I read: Spiderman, Black Boy White School, Chomp
Requirements:
1) broad opening paragraph about the genre of the work
2) what works well or not well about the book - cite specific examples and why they do what they do
3) how this book compares to any sequels or prequels
4) general summary of the book
5) evaluate and comment on any themes/motifs in the book
Requirements:
1) broad opening paragraph about the genre of the work
2) what works well or not well about the book - cite specific examples and why they do what they do
3) how this book compares to any sequels or prequels
4) general summary of the book
5) evaluate and comment on any themes/motifs in the book
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